Abundant Freedom
Series: Abundant Life
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 26th November 2023
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 Let me pray.
00:00:01 --> 00:00:05 Father God, please send your spirit.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 Without your spirit, we are blind.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:14 We cannot see the magnificence of the Lord Jesus.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 We cannot see our slavery to sin.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 And so send your spirit, have mercy on us,
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 that we might see his beauty, his glory, his magnificence,
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 and that we might run to him.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 And we ask it for your sake. Amen.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:39 It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and break through.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 I'm free.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 For those of you who are unfamiliar with those lyrics,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 that's because of two reasons.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 You don't have young children, and particularly young girls.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:03 And secondly, because you weren't listening to my sermon earlier this year
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 when I actually used this as an illustration.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 But they are the lyrics from, or part of the lyrics,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:14 from the song Let It Go in the Disney movie Frozen.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:23 It's sung by a character who is determined to not be the good girl that society wants her to be.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 And instead, she would let go.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 She would express what she had been holding back inside.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 And she would live for herself and only for herself.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 And she declares that the moment that she does that,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 there will no longer be any rights or wrongs.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 It will just be about her.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 And when there's no rights and wrongs, and it's just about her,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:45 then she is truly free.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:55 Now, that's just one example of what is called today total individual freedom.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:01 It's the relative and the dominant worldview of the Western world.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:06 It's what we marinate in in our society day in and day out.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 It goes something like this.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:14 What we need is to be free to live life as we see fit.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 And to work together to make the world a better and more just place to live.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 Religion, however, gets in the way of that.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:31 It constrains our freedom to live as we see fit.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 And so what we need to be is seculars, get rid of religion,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:40 and everyone will be totally free.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:46 Now, the modern concept of freedom, according to sociologists,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 is the freedom of self-assertion.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:59 And you are ultimately free when you have the absence of all constraints.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:08 Now, even though it is, in fact, ironically, the Christian faith that gave the world the concept of personal individual freedom,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:14 it is seen nowadays in our society as the arch enemy of freedom.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 Religion as a whole is seen as the arch enemy of freedom,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 but Christianity, particularly in the West.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:27 And as modern people, therefore, we have to ask ourselves,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:34 do you actually have to choose between freedom and faith?
00:03:35 --> 00:03:39 Are they actually opposites to one another?
00:03:39 --> 00:03:44 Is it possible to follow Jesus, to be a Christian,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 and to actually be abundantly free at the same time?
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 Now, I take it, I'm just going to take this for granted,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 I won't do a poll on this one.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 I take it that everyone in this room wants to be free.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 I won't bother even taking a poll on that.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:03 That you want to be free in the fullest and deepest sense.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:08 That is, if the opposite of freedom is bondage and slavery,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 no one wants that.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 No one wants that.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 We all want to be truly free,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:20 and yet this is exactly what Jesus promises us here.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 So, the outline in the St. Paul's app,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 my first point, constraining freedom.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 Verses 31 and 32 in John 8,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Jesus makes a walloping statement
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 and shows us the difficulty of freedom.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 To the Jews who had believed him,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:41 Jesus said,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 if you hold to my teaching,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 you are really my disciples,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 then you will know the truth,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 and the truth will set you free.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 Verse 32 promises freedom.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 But Jesus says in the verse before it,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 it's only if you hold to his teaching
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 that you will get freedom.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 That is, to hold to his teaching
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 is to embrace it,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 to obey it,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 to live it.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 It is so much stronger
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 than just agreeing with it.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 It's so much stronger
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 than just assenting to it.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:30 Jesus is saying that we can only be free
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 if,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 if,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:34 if,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 we accept his constraints.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 And that's the exact opposite
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 of what our society tells us,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 of what true freedom is.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 Philosophers nowadays talk about
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 two kinds of freedom.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 negative freedom
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 and positive freedom.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 They describe that what is
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 communicated consistently
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 through our culture nowadays
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 is regarded as total negative freedom.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 It's freedom
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 from any barrier
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 or any constraints
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 on our choices.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:20 positive freedom
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 is freedom
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 for.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 That is,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 using freedom
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 to live
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 in a particular way
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 for the good
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 of all.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 Not just me.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 And so what's described
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 in society nowadays
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 is freedom
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 negative,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 total negative freedom.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 and total negative freedom
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 is simplistic
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 and it's unworkable
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 because it's never how freedom
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 actually works.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 True freedom
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 is
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 accepting
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 the right constraints
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 in life.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 Not no constraints.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 So,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 I'll give you an example.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 I'm a diabetic.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 I'm a type 1 diabetic.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 This is not a pager.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 This is an insulin pump.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:14 So,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:15 everyone who says,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:15 oh,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 I thought pagers were,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:16 you know,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 gone now.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 No,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 no,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 it's not a pager.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 It's an insulin pump.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 I'm not,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:20 you know,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 backward in technology
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 in any way.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 So,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 when this thing's vibrating,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 no one's contacting me
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 except blood sugar levels.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 As a diabetic,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 if I chose to exercise
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 my desires in life
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 and my freedom
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 by consuming
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 whatever I wanted,
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 chocolate cake,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 Tim Tams,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 burgers,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:49 Coke,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 rice,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:51 yes,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 I'm sorry,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 it is evil,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 rice,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 no constraints,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 no constraints
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 whatsoever
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 because that's how
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 I exercise my freedom.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 I'm free
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 until I'm not.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 Until I'm not
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 because my body
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 would be a constraint
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 on my life
00:08:11 --> 00:08:11 at some point.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 My body
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 will put constraints
00:08:14 --> 00:08:14 on me.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 I am not free
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 to eat
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 whatever I want
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 and free
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 at the same time
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 to have
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 toes and feet,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 free to have,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 to be able to see
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 the consequences
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 of a non-compliant
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 diabetic life
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 is blindness
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 and blood circulation
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 issues
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 and organs
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 shut down
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 and I can't run
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 and I can't live,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:40 I won't be free
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 to live
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 is the bottom line.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 So the question is,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 what if I,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 deepest desire
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 of my life
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 is sugar
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 and also
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 the other deepest
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 desire of my life
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 is actually
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 to live?
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 The two great
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 deepest desires
00:08:59 --> 00:08:59 of my life
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 are in conflict
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 with one another
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 and I have to
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 choose
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 which deep
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 desire of my life
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 is going
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 to give me
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 the most amount
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 of freedom.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 That is,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 I have to choose
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 the liberating
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 constraint
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 on my life.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 True freedom
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 is not the absence
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 of constraints
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 on my life,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 it is choosing
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 the liberating
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 constraint
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 constraint
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 on my life.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 It is the
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 strategic
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 loss
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 of some
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 freedoms
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 in order
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 to gain
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 the more
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 liberating
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 constraint.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 John Carson,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:40 really,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 I'm just quoting
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 John Carson
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 here and who
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 better got to
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 quote
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 his commentary
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 on John 8
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 where he says,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 true freedom
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 is not the liberty
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 to do anything
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 we please
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 but the liberty
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 to do what
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 we ought
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 and it is
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 true freedom
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 because doing
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 what we
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 ought
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 is what
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 actually
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 pleases us
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 or if I was
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 to put that
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 in his
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 commentary,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 doing what
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 we ought
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 is what
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 brings us
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 the most
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 amount
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 of joy.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:14 But there
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 is a barrier
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 to our
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 freedom.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 In
00:10:20 --> 00:10:20 verses 33
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 and 34
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 is my
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 second point
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 on the
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 outline,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 Jesus shows
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 us the
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 ultimate
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 barrier to
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 our freedom.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 They
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 answered him,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 we are
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 Abraham's
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 descendants
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 and have
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 never been
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 slaves of
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 anyone.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 How can
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 you say
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 that we
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 shall be
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 set free?
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 Jesus
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 replied,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 very truly
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 I tell
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 you,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 everyone
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 who sins
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 is a
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 slave to
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 sin.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 Remarkably
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 what Jesus
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 says here
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 is that
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 the biggest
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 barrier
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 to our
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 freedom
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 is inside
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 of us.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 Our
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 society
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 tells us
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 that the
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 ultimate
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 barrier to
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 our freedom
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 is outside
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 of us.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 institutions,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 it's
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 social
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 conventions,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 it's
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 inequality,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 it's your
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 family,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 it's the
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 government,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 it's romantic
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 partners,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 it's your
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 job,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 it's a
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 whole range
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 of things
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 outside
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 of you
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 that are
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 the barriers
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 to your
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 freedom.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 It's that
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 stuff outside
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 of us that's
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 getting in the
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 way of us
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 fulfilling our
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 desires and
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 our freedom
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 in life.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 of course
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 I'm not
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 denying that
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 there are
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 oppressive
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 forces in
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 society and
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 relationships,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 but what
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 Jesus is
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 saying here
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 is the
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 ultimate
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 barrier to
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 true
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 freedom
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 is inside,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 inside.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 In
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 verses 33
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 and 34
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 Jesus is
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 addressing the
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 same group
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 that he's
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 addressing in
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 verse 31.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 That is,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 as we see
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 in verse 31,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 the Jews
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 who had
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 believed him.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 And what
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 he wants to
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 do to this
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 group of
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 people that
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 he's currently
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 faced with,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 he wants to
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 show them
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 their biggest
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 problem.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 Their biggest
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 problem.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 And here
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 it is.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Notice
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 he does not
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 say that
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 this group of
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 people in
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 verse 31
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 believed in
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 him.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 very
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 specifically
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 John says
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 they believed
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 him.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 That is,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 what John's
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 doing here
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 is he's
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 putting this
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 group of
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 people currently
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 talking to
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Jesus in
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 the same
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 category that
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 he's already
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 spoken about in
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 John 6 and
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 in other places
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 in John.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 Those who
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 have a fickle
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 faith.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:58 And here
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 already we
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 are seeing
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 that these
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 people are
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 getting ticked
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 off with
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 Jesus.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 And by the
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 end of this
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 section,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 as Nolien read
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 out to us,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 they're ready
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 to kill him.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 Their biggest
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 problem is
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 what Jesus
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 says in
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 verse 34.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 They are
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 slaves.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 And unless
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 the truth
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 about Jesus,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 the gospel
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 intervenes,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 they will
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 always remain
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 in slavery.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 And they're
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 completely insulted
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 by this.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 They say,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 we are
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 Abraham's
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 descendants and
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 we have
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 never been
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 slaves to
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 anyone.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 Now, of
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 course, up to
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 this point in
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 history, in
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 first century
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 Palestine,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 there's hardly
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 been a major
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 power in
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 the world
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 that Abraham's
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 descendants have
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 not been
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 servitude to.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 Egypt,
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 Assyria,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 Babylon,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 Greece,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 Syria, and
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 even in that
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 moment, while
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 they're talking
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 to Jesus,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 there's Romans
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 everywhere.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 That is,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 it's not like
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 they missed
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 the obvious.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 They knew
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 exactly what
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 Jesus was
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 talking about.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 They knew
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 that Jesus
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 was talking
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 about an
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 inward
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 slavery.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 And yet,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 in this
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 moment,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 they are
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 blind.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 They could
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 not see
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 their slavery.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 As Abraham's
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 descendants,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 they thought
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 they were
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 right with
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 God.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 Now,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 God and
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 us,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 we're okay.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 We've got
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 the religious
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 system,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 we've got
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 sacrifices,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 we've got the
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 temple,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 we're good.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 And Jesus
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 says to them,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 no, no, no,
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 you are not
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 good.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 Inwardly,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 you are
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 slaves to
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 sin.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 And
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 shockingly,
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 in verse
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 34,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 he takes
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 the point
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 even further.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 I tell you
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 the truth,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 everyone
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 who sins
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 is a
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 slave
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 to sin.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 everyone.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 Everyone
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 who has
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 ever
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 made a
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 mistake,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 everyone
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 who has
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 never
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 lived
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 perfectly,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 that is
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 just the
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 surface
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 issue.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 Your faults
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 on the
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 outside are
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 just your
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 surface
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 issue.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Deeper
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 down,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 you are
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 enslaved
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 to sin,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 captivated
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 by sin.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 sin is
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 a power
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 in our
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 hearts,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 over our
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 lives that
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 make us
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 do the
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 bad things.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 Sin sets
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 itself up
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 against God,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 it sets
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 itself up
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 against other
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 people,
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 and every
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 person,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 according to
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 Jesus,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 is enslaved
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 to it.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 And yet
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 every person
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 is blind
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 to the
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 deepest
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 reality
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 of it.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 I remember
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 talking to
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 someone not
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 that long
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 ago who
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 said,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 yeah,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 I'm not
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 perfect,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 but it
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 didn't
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 bother
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 them.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 They're
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 just like,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 because I'm
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 just like
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 everyone else,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 but they're
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 blind to the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 deepest reality
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 of that sin
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 and what it
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 means.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 That's the
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 point of
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 chapter 9,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 which we
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 didn't read,
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 but I want
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 to include,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 we cannot
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 see our
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 sin,
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 and we
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 cannot see
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 the depth
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 and the
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 horror and
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 the implication
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 of our
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 sin,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 and therefore
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 the freedom
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 that only
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 Jesus can
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 give us
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 from our
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 sin.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 There are
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 so many
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 freedoms that
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 we can make
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 for ourselves,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 particularly
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 in the
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 Western
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 world,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 world,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 but not
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 this one,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 and for
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 the most
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 part in
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 life,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 we go
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 about our
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 existence
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 unaware
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 that we're
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 not free.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 We are
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 deeply
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 enslaved to
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 sin.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 Let me
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 try and
00:17:29 --> 00:17:33 land this.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 It's a
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 little bit
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 of a
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 pun,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 really,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 but you'll
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 get there
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 in a
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 minute.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 Let me
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 try and
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 give you
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 a definition
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 of freedom.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 You are
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 fully free
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 when you
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 have the
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 desire,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 the ability,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the opportunity
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 to do
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 what will
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 leave you
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 with no
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 regrets
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 forever.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 The
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 ability,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 the desire,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 the ability,
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 the opportunity
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 to do what
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 will leave you
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 with no
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 regrets
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 forever.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 We take
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 that as a
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 definition of
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 freedom.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 Let me
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 think about
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 land this
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and talk
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 about freedom
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 and parachuting.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 You have
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 always wanted
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 to experience
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 the freedom
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 of parachuting.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 You pay
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 your money
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 and you
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 make it to
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 the airport
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 to the
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 plane and
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 hop on the
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 plane without
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 an accident.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 Tick that
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 box,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 you have the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 freedom of
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 opportunity.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 ability.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 You've done
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 the classes
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 and you
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 know how
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 to parachute.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 Tick that
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 box,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 you have the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 freedom of
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 ability.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 You're up
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 in the
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 plane,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 you look
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 out the
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 door,
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 ready to
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 jump,
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 tick that
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 box,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 you have the
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 freedom of
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 desire.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 This has
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 been,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 I just
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 cannot
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 wait to
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 jump out
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 of this
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 perfectly
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 good plane.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 You're not
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 frozen by
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 fear.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 This is the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 moment you've
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 been living
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 for.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Opportunity,
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 desire and
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 ability all
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 line up and
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 so you
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 jump.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 And as
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 you free
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 fall, you
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 are enjoying
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 the exhilaration
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 of it all.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 Yes!
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 Until the
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 moment you
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 discover your
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 parachute's
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 defective.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:29 And in
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 the moment
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 you discover
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 your parachute
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 is defective,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 you are
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 enslaved
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 to the
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 forces of
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 gravity.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 You cannot
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 do anything
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 about it.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 What you
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 are doing
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 so happily
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and so
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 free
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 is going
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 to kill
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 you.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 You are
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 enslaved to
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 destruction.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 You are
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 what you
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 are unaware
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 of is
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 right from
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 the get
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 go.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Before you
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 even set
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 out to
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 the airport,
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 you were
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 already
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 enslaved to
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 destruction.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 But you
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 are unaware
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 of it.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:11 you
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 couldn't
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 see.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 You
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 were
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 blind to
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 that
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 reality.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 And it
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 feels like
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 freedom right
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 until you
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 pull that
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 ripcord or
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 the instructor
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 does it for
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 you.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 And in
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 that moment
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 all the
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 exhilaration,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 all the
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 freedom will
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 prove to be
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 an illusion.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 In 30
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 seconds you'll
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 be dead.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 You
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 will be
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 dead.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 And in
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 John chapter
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 8,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:41 Jesus is
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 trying to
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 help these
00:20:41 --> 00:20:44 people and
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 us see
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 that sin
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 has enslaved
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 us.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 And that
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 religion and
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 the moral
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 effort and
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 pursuing
00:20:53 --> 00:20:56 self-assertion
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 is nothing
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 more than a
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 defective
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 parachute.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:03 only he
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 can set
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 us free.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 The
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 Bible tells
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 us that the
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 wages of
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 sin is
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 death and
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 unless that
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 wage is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 paid, we
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 are not
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 free.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 In
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 John 8,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 Jesus doesn't
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 unpack what
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 actually that
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 means, what
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 sin is, but
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 the rest of
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 the Bible
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 does.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 And I just
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 want to pick
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 on, there's a
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 number of
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 ways that it
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 describes.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 I just want
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 to mention
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 two relatively
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 briefly.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 First of
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 all, sin
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 is resisting
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 our creator,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 resisting
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 obeying our
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 creator.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 Deep inside
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 the human
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 heart is an
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 impulse that
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 resists anyone
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 telling us how
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 to live our
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 lives.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Anyone telling
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 us how to
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 live our
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 lives.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 I've never
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 had to instruct
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 any of my
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 children how to
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 do that, how
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 to resist
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 instruction.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 Never had to
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 do that.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 My parents
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 didn't have to
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 teach me
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 about it
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 either.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 All sorts
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 of things
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 will bring
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 out that
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 impulse in
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 our hearts.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 Parents,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 the state,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 schools,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 institutions,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 clubs imposing
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 boundaries and
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 expectations, but
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 the ultimate
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 trigger deep in
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 our hearts is
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 God himself.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 When God
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 tells us how
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 to live,
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 this is the
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 difference.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 when God,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 our creator,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 tells us how
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 to live,
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 it's like the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 owner's manual
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 instructing us
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 how to live,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 so to speak.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 As the
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 creator, he
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 designed life
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 to function a
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 particular way.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 It's the same
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 way that my
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 car manufacturer,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 I've got this
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 manual in the
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 glove box to
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 how to get the
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 most out of
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 your vehicle.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 vehicle.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 And there's a
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 heap of warning
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 instructions of
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 what not to do
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 with it.
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 You know,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 don't go beyond
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 this depth of
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 water, it's not
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 a boat, you
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 know.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 It has
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 instructions on
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 fuel and
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 servicings and
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 warnings of
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 wrong use.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 Go against the
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 manual and the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 design of the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 car is a
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 violation of its
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 purpose and it
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 will destroy your
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 investment and it
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 could even destroy
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 you.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 If God says
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 you must not
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 lie, you must
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 not steal, you
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 must not commit
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 sexual immorality,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 you must forgive,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 you must be
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 generous, you
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 are violating your
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 own design when
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 you don't.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 Your own soul,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 you're violating
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 your own nature.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 You are moving
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 against yourself.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 And it will
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 always lead to
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 loss of freedom
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 every time we
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 move against
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 ourselves.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 Now I don't
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 have time to
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 unpack it here,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 but recently I
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 preached a sermon
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 called Generous
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 Forgiveness that
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 shows how that
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 might work.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 We are made in
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 the image of a
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 God who is a
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 forgiving God.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 He calls us to
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 forgive when we
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 don't.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 It momentarily
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 feels good not to
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 forgive.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 forgive.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 Let's be
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 frank.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 It does
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 momentarily feel
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 good not to
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 forgive.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 It's a power
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 move.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 But lack of
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 forgiveness means
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 we hang on to it
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 until eventually
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 bitterness grows and
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 in the end we are
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 the ones hurting.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 Hurting ourselves
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 as the original
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 hurt gets played
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 over and over
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 and over again in
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 our hearts and
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 we hurt ourselves
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 to the point that
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 other relationships
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 in our lives get
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 hurt as a result
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 of it.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 The impulse of
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 the human heart
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 to resist God
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 is a movement
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 against our own
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 nature and it
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 means that we
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 are the ones
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 enslaved.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 Another way the
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 Bible defines sin
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 is self-centeredness.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 That is using
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 other people to
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 serve our own
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 needs first.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 That's why the
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 modern idea of
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 freedom is so
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 popular because it
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 connects with that
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 desire of
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 self-centeredness to
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 use people for
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 our own sakes.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 What that means
00:25:26 --> 00:25:29 is we can either
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 be free in the
00:25:30 --> 00:25:33 modern sense or
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 you can be free in
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 a biblical sense to
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 love but you
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 can't do both.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:42 You can't do
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 both.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 You can't be free
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 and love.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 You can't be free
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 in the modern sense
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 and love.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 Self-centeredness
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 always destroys
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 love which is our
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 ultimate freedom.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 There is no
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 greater liberation
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 than to feel and
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 to be loved well.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 The affirmation that
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 comes from love
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 liberates us from
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 fears and from
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 self-doubts.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 It frees us from
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 facing the world
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 alone.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 Our friends,
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 our partners are
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 crucial to helping
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 us navigate the
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 hard times as
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 well as achieving
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 our goals.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 But the minute we
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 get into such a
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 relationship is the
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 minute that we must
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 surrender some
00:26:22 --> 00:26:25 freedoms to
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 experience the
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 freedom of love.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 You can never
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 experience the
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 freedom of love
00:26:31 --> 00:26:34 without relinquishing
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 your personal
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 freedom.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 freedom.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 That's a concept
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 that the modern
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 idea of love
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 knows nothing
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 about.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 The more you
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 give up your
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 independence for
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 each other, the
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 deeper the love
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 will be and the
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 freer you will
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 feel.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 If we have a
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 definition of
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 freedom that is
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 self-centered and
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 free from all
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 constraints, it
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 will destroy you,
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 it will destroy
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 your freedoms
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 because you
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 will never feel
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 loved.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 You'll never
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 know the
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 freedom of
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 genuine love.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 So who's
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 going to free
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 us from this
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 slavery to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 sin?
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 That's my
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 next point.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 Verses 35 to
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 36, we saw
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 the source of
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 true freedom.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 Now a slave
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 has no permanent
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 place in the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 family, but a
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 son belongs to
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 it forever.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 So if the
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 son sets you
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 free, you'll be
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 free indeed.
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 A servant
00:27:36 --> 00:27:41 might get to
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 live in the
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 mansion, they
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 might get to
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 drive in the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 limousine, they
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 might get to
00:27:45 --> 00:27:47 accompany the
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 owners on
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 overseas trips,
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 and even have a
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 great relationship
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 with the boss.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 Think of the
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 good guys in
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 Downton Abbey,
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 downstairs,
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 upstairs, get
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 on really well,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 but they're not
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 part of the
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 family.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 family.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 And it's all
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 based on good
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 works.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 If you do
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 your job, you
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 obey the rules,
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 you can exist in
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 that environment,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 when you don't,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 you're out.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 Simple as that.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 It's a different
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 relationship with the
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 children of the
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 owner.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 One relationship
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 is based on good
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 works, the other
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 relationship is based
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 on unconditional
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 love.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 love.
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 So it's crucial
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 that we understand
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 that Jesus is not
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 calling us here to
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 increasing religious
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 activity.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 Religion in
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 slaves, only
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40 unconditional love
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 will set us free.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 The only way the
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 sin in our life
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 will be dealt
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 with is if the
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 son himself
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 sets slaves
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 free.
00:28:50 --> 00:28:56 And we see
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 how he does
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 that right at
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 the end of
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 this conversation.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 Verse 58,
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 very truly
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 I tell you,
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 Jesus answered
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 before Abraham
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 was born,
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 I am.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:14 Now, for all
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 the grammar
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 people out
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 there, you
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 think, oh,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 Jesus is, you
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 know, should
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 have spent more
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 time at school.
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 You know, we
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 expect him to
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 say before Abraham
00:29:24 --> 00:29:27 was, I was.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 When he says
00:29:29 --> 00:29:32 I am, he was
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 making a very
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 clear connection
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35 to the personal
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 name that God
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 gives to Moses
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 at the burning
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 bush when he
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 says, who are
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 you God?
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 And he just
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 says, I am
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 who I am.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 Exodus 3.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 And Jesus
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 takes that name
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 up upon himself
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 here.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 And that's why
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 they picked up
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 stones to stone
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 Jesus immediately.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 He is claiming
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 the divine name
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 for himself.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 I am your
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 creator.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 I am your
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 God.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 I am the
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 logos, the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 logic of the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 universe.
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 And it's an
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 outrageous
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 claim.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 Jesus here
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 claims to
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 be the
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 all-powerful,
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 all-present,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 unrestricted,
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 totally free
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 God.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 And how
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 does he set
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 us free?
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 Well, when
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 they picked up
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 stones to kill
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 him for
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 blasphemy,
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 that was just
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 simply a
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 foreshadow that
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 they would in
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 fact kill
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 him.
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 and it
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 will be his
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 plan to
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 be killed
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 in order
00:30:40 --> 00:30:42 to make
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 us children
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 of God.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 Jesus
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 Christ,
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 God the
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 Son,
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 giving up
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 his ultimate
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 and infinite
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 freedom,
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 came into
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 this creation
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 with all the
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 constraints of
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 human existence
00:30:56 --> 00:30:58 sins, and
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 eventually
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 surrendered
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 himself to
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 death on
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 a cross,
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 and death
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 so that we,
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 the slaves,
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 slaves to
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 sin, could
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 have the
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 freedom of
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 being children
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 of God.
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 for
00:31:12 --> 00:31:15 he was
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 bound to
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 a cross
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 and death
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 so that we
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 could be
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 free and
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 live.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 We also
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 told in the
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 gospel that
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 as he died
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 for our sin,
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 the world
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 was plunged
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 into darkness.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 As he
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 himself was
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 plunged into
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 unimaginable
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 darkness,
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 as he was
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 judged for the
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 sin of the
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 world and
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 all the
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 despair and
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 the rejection
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 that he
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 felt in
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 that moment
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 as he
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 moved into
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 death.
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 And he
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 did that
00:31:49 --> 00:31:51 so that we
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 who exist in
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 the darkness
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 of sin,
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 who cannot
00:31:53 --> 00:31:55 see his
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 glory and
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 his majesty,
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 might have
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 the light
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 of life.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 That we
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 might see
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 his beauty,
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 that we
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 might see
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 that he is
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 the source
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 of true
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 freedom and
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 life forever.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 From the
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 manger to
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 the cross,
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 Jesus Christ
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 gives up
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 his freedom
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 bit by
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 bit to
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 set us
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 free
00:32:17 --> 00:32:20 from
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 slavery to
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 sin.
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 And once
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 we see
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 that what
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 he has
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 done for
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 us,
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 it
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 transforms
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 us from
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 a slave to
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 a child,
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 from duty
00:32:33 --> 00:32:35 to choice.
00:32:35 --> 00:32:38 this is
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 the truth
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 about the
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 sun that
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 causes the
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 blind to
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 see,
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 for darkness
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 to be
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 extinguished,
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 death to be
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 defeated,
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 eternal life
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 granted and
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 freedom
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 experienced.
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 lost.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 I read the
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 story recently
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 of a
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 tandem
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 skydiving
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 incident that
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 went horribly
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 wrong.
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 A man was
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 on his
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 first ever
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 parachuting
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 jump celebrating
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 his daughter's
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 birthday,
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 absolutely
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 loving it,
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 looking forward
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 to it,
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 absolutely
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 loving it,
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 particularly he
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 said the
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 freedom of the
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 free fall was
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 just exhilarating
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 until 12
00:33:19 --> 00:33:22 feet and
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 the instructor
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 pulled the
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 rip cord and
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 it didn't
00:33:24 --> 00:33:26 work and
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 then the
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 instructor pulled
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 the reserve
00:33:28 --> 00:33:31 cord and
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 it didn't
00:33:31 --> 00:33:33 work and
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 at 12
00:33:34 --> 00:33:36 feet all the
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 exhilaration went
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 into enslavery to
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 gravity in that
00:33:40 --> 00:33:42 moment and
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 just before they
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 hit the ground
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 this young
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 experienced
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 skydiver
00:33:48 --> 00:33:51 turned the
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 parachute
00:33:51 --> 00:33:55 around and
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 put him
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 between the
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 ground and
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 this dad.
00:34:00 --> 00:34:02 He died and
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 the dad
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 lived.
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 He sacrificed
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 himself.
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 If you are
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 not a
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 Christian sitting
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 in this room
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 or listening to
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 this online,
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 open your
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 eyes,
00:34:17 --> 00:34:19 eyes,
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 eyes of your
00:34:19 --> 00:34:21 heart and
00:34:21 --> 00:34:23 realize that
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 the life you
00:34:23 --> 00:34:25 are living is
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 enslaving.
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 You are not
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 free and you
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 know you're not
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 free.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 Don't care what
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 possessions you've
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 got, you are
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 not free.
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 Death awaits
00:34:34 --> 00:34:36 us all, the
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 final mockery of
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 everything that
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 we're built in
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 our lives.
00:34:39 --> 00:34:43 open your eyes
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 and see that
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 only Jesus,
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 the one who
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 has died and
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 risen again,
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 only he can
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 set you free.
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 Understand that
00:34:54 --> 00:34:56 he has absorbed
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 your punishment.
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 He has been
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 enslaved for you
00:35:00 --> 00:35:03 and understand he
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 did it knowing,
00:35:04 --> 00:35:07 knowing before he
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 created the world
00:35:09 --> 00:35:11 that the parachute
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 that he was
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 taking on was
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 defective.
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 He knew it.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 He sacrificed his
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 life for yours
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 and so I plead
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 with you,
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 come to him
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 today.
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 Come to him
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 today.
00:35:25 --> 00:35:27 Take on his
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 liberating constraints
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 and be truly
00:35:30 --> 00:35:33 free for the
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 first time in
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 your life and
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 free forever
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 without any
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 regrets.
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 If you're a
00:35:41 --> 00:35:43 Christian in
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 this room,
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 online,
00:35:47 --> 00:35:50 it is utter
00:35:50 --> 00:35:53 foolishness for
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 you to envy
00:35:54 --> 00:35:56 and pursue
00:35:56 --> 00:35:58 not just envy
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 but to pursue
00:35:59 --> 00:36:01 the so-called
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 freedom of
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 those who jump
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 out of the
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 airplane of
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 total negative
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 freedom and
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 sin and
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 revel for an
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 exhilarating
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 moment, just
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 for a moment,
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 in the free
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 fall of greed,
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 the free
00:36:14 --> 00:36:16 fall of fame,
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 the free
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 fall of sex,
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 the free
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 fall of power,
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 the free
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 fall of comfort,
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 the free
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 fall of adventure,
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 the free
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 fall of security,
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 blind to sin.
00:36:26 --> 00:36:28 And Jesus
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 and eternal
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 death.
00:36:31 --> 00:36:33 How dare we
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 try to keep
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 a foot in
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 both worlds,
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 thinking that we
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 get a freedom
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 from both?
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 That is the
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 very definition
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 of fickle
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 faith in
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 John 8 31.
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 Ascenting to
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 Jesus and
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 living as I
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 choose.
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 Jesus.
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 And if you
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 read through
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 John chapter
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 8, Jesus
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 condemns it.
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 I call you to
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 surrender.
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 I call you to
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 take your next
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 step.
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 Too many want to
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 believe Jesus but
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 not fully surrender
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 to him.
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 It's the very
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 definition of
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 fickle faith.
00:37:11 --> 00:37:13 When we here at
00:37:13 --> 00:37:13 St. Paul's
00:37:13 --> 00:37:15 consistently ask
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 you, what is
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 your next step?
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 Are you taking
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 your next step?
00:37:19 --> 00:37:22 We are asking
00:37:22 --> 00:37:24 what is the
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 next liberating
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 constraint that
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 you're going to
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 take on for
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 your life?
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 That's what we're
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 asking.
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 How are you
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 going to conform
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 more and more
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 to God's
00:37:34 --> 00:37:34 word?
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 Back in verse
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 31 when Jesus
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 says to these
00:37:40 --> 00:37:42 people, his
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 disciples are
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 those who hold
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 to his teaching.
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 The word hold
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 means to abide
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 in, to
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 align your
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 life with
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 repeatedly
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 again and
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 again and
00:37:54 --> 00:37:56 again and
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 again.
00:37:59 --> 00:38:01 If you are
00:38:01 --> 00:38:02 stuck in a
00:38:02 --> 00:38:03 rut, the
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 very first
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 thing I'm
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 calling you to
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 do is to
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 repent.
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 Repent.
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 Align yourself
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 to God's word.
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 Take God's
00:38:13 --> 00:38:13 word into
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 your life and
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 live into how
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 he has designed
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 you.
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 It is taking
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 on his
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 liberating
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 constraints.
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 And as we
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 do align
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 ourselves to
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 the Logos
00:38:27 --> 00:38:29 himself, our
00:38:29 --> 00:38:32 design, we
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 are fully
00:38:33 --> 00:38:35 free, fully
00:38:35 --> 00:38:37 free in its
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 truest sense.
00:38:38 --> 00:38:56 and
00:38:56 --> 00:38:58 you
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 do by
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 I
00:38:59 --> 00:38:59 think